Chapter 109: The Grand Gathering Arrives

So, according to plan, Li Lekang began special training for the Messiah. The Messiah regarded him with a degree of awe, akin to the natural deference a student feels toward a teacher. Li Lekang gave him the husky to be his companion, taught him tricks to simulate divinity, and trained him to walk on water and tread on thin air... essentially, he acted as a teacher. Yet he was not a patient one, and his tone could be quite harsh at times.

This was especially true when the Messiah, constantly distracted by thoughts of playing with the dog, let Li Lekang's words go in one ear and out the other. Li Lekang would hand down punishments, forbidding him from playing with Mike and ordering him to stand against the wall. Watching this from the side, Olivia's heart leaped into her throat. She couldn't help but think that this was the sacred bloodline, after all; the only person who would dare treat him this way was none other than this Holy Father himself!

As time went on and the truth of the Messiah was laid bare to her, Olivia gradually began to feel that Li Lekang was the one who truly resembled a holy prophet. She realized that this Messiah was not some divine being directly linked to God as described in the scriptures; he was merely a mortal, a chosen spokesperson. The sisterhood she led felt the same. While others might marvel at the Messiah's various miracles, the nuns knew very well that these were all taught by Li Lekang. Perhaps he was the true Holy Father! They dared not speak of it aloud, but they already believed it in their hearts.

Ten days passed as everyone's perceptions underwent a constant shift. While planning the filming of other promotional videos, Li Lekang also arranged the performance venue. He viewed this as just another one of his magic shows, with the audience being corporate conglomerates, which made his planning much smoother. Meanwhile, his two scheduled Broadway performances concluded successfully. Because the venue was relatively small, hosting only fifteen hundred people per show, he did not perform any mind-bending stunts, keeping the acts fairly standard.

Yet the reviews were still glowing. Although ticket prices had been marked up three to five times, many fanatical fans were still eager to witness the magic in person, and Li Lekang introduced several new tricks to satisfy them. By the time the two shows concluded, his training of the Messiah was also drawing to a close. Thanks to his clear system of rewards and punishments, the Messiah had learned to match his rhythm and master the required form of performance.

All that remained was to wait for the day of the grand gathering, when the Saints organization would convene in New York. At that time, the high-ranking members and representatives of the Saints would all be in attendance. The miracle of the century would take place then.

One morning, Starr and the Bishop of the East arrived unexpectedly. The Bishop of the East, whose real name was Francis Mendez, had generously sponsored the New York estate and supported Li Lekang's work. Although they had never met in person, Li Lekang had a favorable impression of him.

News reports often showed Bishop Mendez eschewing grand manors and luxury mansions to live among the common people, preaching, teaching, and frequently attending child welfare events. He was an influential philanthropist in his own right. Starr had once commented that among this scheming group of bishops, Mendez might be the most devout. That was why, on the matter of the Messiah, he had chosen to align himself with Starr, who held the weakest position. Li Lekang was more than happy to meet such an ally in person.

Francis Mendez was a man in his sixties, his back already slightly hunched, yet he was dressed in full regalia: a white robe, a hexagram cross and holy medal necklace, and a golden vestment. He met the Father and the Messiah with great solemnity. Naturally, the focus was on the Messiah. Li Lekang tactfully took half a step back, watching as Mendez stepped forward, took the Messiah's hand, kissed the back of it, and spoke words of praise with visible emotion.

However, the Messiah looked utterly blank, glancing left and right, his eyes constantly turning to Li Lekang as if asking if he could go play. Li Lekang shook his head, warning him to stay still. He didn't want any trouble at a moment like this. For a devout believer like Mendez, he wanted to give him some hope, so he planned to have the Messiah show off a few of his tricks in a moment.

Unexpectedly, Mike the dog chose that exact moment to trot past. As the holy dog, he held a lofty status in the manor; except for Li Lekang's private quarters, there was nothing he didn't dare to tear apart. Wagging his tail as he passed, he saw the dazed Messiah and let out a couple of barks—just like a childhood friend urging you to sneak out and play—before bolting.

Seeing this, the Messiah immediately pulled his hand away and gave chase, cheering, "Let's have a contest, Holy Dog! Let's see who can pee higher on the tree branch!"

Li Lekang: "..."
Mendez: "..."

Starr cleared his throat. "Bishop Mendez, the Messiah's situation is somewhat different from ours. He is quite unique, which is something you only truly appreciate after spending time with him. I hope you can understand."

Looking at the silly youth chasing a dog into the distance, Mendez's expression of utter shock was not going to fade anytime soon. The old man, who had spent his entire life in the faith, clearly needed a moment to process this.

Mendez finally offered an awkward smile. "Perhaps this is the Heavenly Father's message. True innocence is something we mortals find exceedingly difficult to attain, which is why our world is so rife with intrigue and conflict."

Starr chimed in, "The Father's omniscience and omnipotence have always guided us in every detail. It is only that mankind is born in sin and requires constant correction and purification. This is precisely His guidance."

Hearing this, Li Lekang couldn't help but marvel at how true masters of the craft they were. These two old charlatans could spin a theological philosophy out of absolutely anything! He felt completely reassured. There was no need to force the Messiah to perform any miracles now. After all, to these religious heads, even a common stone could be spun into a holy relic.

With that, the awkwardness of the meeting dissolved. The trace of disappointment in Mendez's eyes vanished in an instant, and he cheered up, moving indoors with Starr to enjoy afternoon tea and discuss the upcoming annual conference.

Li Lekang had no interest in religious charlatans, so he did not join them. He remained in the dark about what Starr and Mendez discussed, though rumors later circulated that the two bishops still held differing views on the future of the Saints. They had apparently debated the matter of the Messiah late into the night, and raised voices had been heard. It only went to show that even masters were human, and disagreements were inevitable.

...

A few days later, the annual conference of the Saints finally arrived. Leaving his residence in Manhattan's Upper East Side, Li Lekang boarded a helicopter for Long Island, accompanied by his subordinate nuns.

A general aviation airport on Long Island had already been cordoned off, with New York State authorities implementing strict traffic control. In principle, only flights associated with the Saints were permitted to land, and a private hangar area had been reserved for them.

Extra police forces had been deployed to secure the perimeter of the estate hosting the conference. If necessary, a semi-lockdown would be enforced to give the attendees a green light all the way. Why did these people command such privilege? The answer was simple: capitalism. The operating budgets of these politicians, the police, and the local government itself were funded by the taxes paid by the Saints. Naturally, serving them was par for the course.

The local residents could hardly complain about the misuse of taxpayer money either. The Saints were the largest taxpayers in the entire region; everyone from civil servants to police officers drew their salaries from their contributions. If the organization was displeased and decided to pull out, the resulting economic and tax crisis would be severe enough to have the mayor and the governor begging for them to stay.

From the moment he stepped off the helicopter, Li Lekang felt the sheer, domineering force of wealth. The Saints remained low-key for most of the year, but on this single day of congregation, they seemed determined to make up for the other three hundred and sixty-four days of modesty with a display of absolute extravagance.

The airport tarmac was packed with white luxury sedans and black SUVs, and burly men in suits with coiled earpieces were everywhere. Whenever a prominent figure from the organization arrived, a motorcade would escort them away in grand style. There were no security screenings or exit queues. Li Lekang stepped straight from the aircraft into a waiting car, which tore out of the airport and onto the highway with a roar of the engine.

By the roadside outside, police officers eating donuts sprang into action the moment their radios crackled with the alert of a VIP motorcade's departure. They started their engines and sped ahead to lead the way. The convoy tore through the streets, led by cruisers with flashing lights clearing the path, while motorcycle officers and police cars blocked major intersections to ensure a swift, uninterrupted passage. Sitting comfortably in his seat, Li Lekang marveled at the sheer dominance of the display. He finally understood why people craved power so desperately. He might not need this level of pageantry every day, but having the option was absolutely essential.